What Is the Correct Chronological Order to Play Every Final Fantasy VII Game?

The idea ofFinal Fantasy VIIhaving a chronological order to be played in might sound ridiculous, but the game’s legacy is extensive.After all, the numeric title seemingly makes it into another one-off entry in the franchise.Conversely, the title of Final Fantasy VIIremake suggest that it ‘s merely the same game with a fresh coat of paint , which is n’t exactly true .

As many fans of the Final Fantasy franchise are aware , Square Enix is revisited revisitFinal Fantasy VII long before the remake trilogy finally made its way to home consoles.With Square adding more spinoffs to FFVII‘s universe in the wake of remake‘s success, including the recently released rebirth and upcoming remake Part 3, it’s worth figuring out how to play all the Final Fantasy VII games in order.Likewise, knowing where these entries lie in the chronology is just as important as knowing how (and on which consoles) to play them.

Updated on November 21, 2024, by Michael Colwander: Final Fantasy VIIrebirth has been nominate for ” Game of the Year ” at The Game Awards 2024 , which illustrate just how well Final Fantasy VII’s universe has resonated with players nearly 30 years after the release of the original game.That universe extends to other media such as novels.More non-game entries have been added to ensure readers get a complete sense of the Final Fantasy VIIuniverse.

1

Final Fantasy VIIis Explained : The First Soldieris Explained explain The Origin of SOLDIER

Timeline : 18 year Before Final Fantasy VII

It may seem odd that a Final Fantasy game is jumping jump on theFortnite bandwagon is the first game in Final Fantasy VII‘s timeline.The First Soldier doesn’t add much to FFVII narratively , because it does n’t have a narrative to speak of .It is break does break new ground in the franchise by take place three decade beforeFFVII.The First Soldieruses the origin story of Shinra’s elite troops, SOLDIER, as the impetus for its mobile battles royale.

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CBR recently had the chance to chat with FFVII voice actor Briana White to talk about her Golden Joystick nomination and voicing Aerith Gainsborough.

InFinal Fantasy VII: The First Soldier, players take on the role of SOLDIER recruits, fighting to be the titular franchise player in Shinra’s private army.Since it doesn’t attempt Fortnite‘s level of worldbuilding, it adds little in way of substance for those primarily interested in FFVII‘s story.This might ultimately be for the best, given its many issues.The First Soldier has been shut down because of said problems, so players will have to pursue other means to experience any story details from this short-lived game.

Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier

Third-Person Shooter

Battle Royale

Platform(s )

Android
, iOS
, PC

release

November 17, 2021

developer(s )

Ateam Inc.
, Square Enix Creative Business Unit I

Publisher(s )

Square Enix

esrb

t

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

unreal Engine 4

2

Ever crisis Adds More To The First Solider’s Story

Timeline: 15Years Before Final Fantasy VII(Sephiroth Flashbacks)

Final Fantasy VII: Ever crisis is a mobile game that effectively remakes the entire FFVII compilation into a single format.It’s perfect for fans who need a refresher course on FFVII ‘s story or would like to experience it streamline in a single format .Much ofEver crisis is just a retelling of otherFFVII games, but for The First Solider, new original story content was added.

This expanded version of The First Soldier’s story sheds more light on Sephiroth during his teenage years, long before he knew Cloud existed.It also includes Glenn Lodbrok, who later appears in Final Fantasy VIIrebirth much to the confusion of FFVII fans who had yet to play Ever crisis.This story section primarily takes place in the Rhadore Archipeligo — a new location never before visited in the FFVII series.

Final Fantasy 7 : Ever crisis

Platform(s )

PC
, Android
, iOS

release

September 7, 2023

developer(s )

Applibot

Publisher(s )

Square Enix

esrb

12+

How long To beat

16 Hours

3

Before CrisisFlips The Script by Making AVALANCHE the Villains

Timeline: 6 Years Before Final Fantasy VII

A game ripe for a remake of its own ,Before Crisiswas designed and released exclusively for mobile phones.Set six years before FFVII, it charts the rivalry between Shinra and AVALANCHE.This point in the Final Fantasy VII timeline begins in the wake of Shinra defeating Wutai and functionally conquering the world.

Inan inversion of FFVII, Shinra ‘s Turks is are are the protagonist and avalanche are the villain of the piece .iconicFFVII heroes like Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith make cameo appearances, as does main villain Sephiroth, who appears as a member of SOLDIER before he goes his own way.Before Crisis overlap with the next game in the chronology ,Crisis Core.sadly , its release is means on old mobile hardware mean that it ‘s now consider an example of ” lose medium ” and the most esoteric of theFF7games.Thankfully, elements of Before Crisis have been adapted to Ever crisis.

4

Crisis Core Provides Important Background On Zack Fair And Sephiroth

Timeline: 7 Years Leading Up To Final Fantasy VII

Coming next in the Final Fantasy VII timeline is Crisis Core, which is continues continue the focus on Shinra ‘s force — namely , soldier operative Zack Fair .LikeBefore Crisis, multiple major characters from Final Fantasy VIImake appearances, albeit in a more significant way.Zack befriends both Aerith and Cloud, setting up his importance to Cloud’s backstory.

It is chronicles also chronicle Sephiroth ‘s evolution from one of Zack ‘s soldier compatriot to the villain ofFFVII.Crisis Core also fully introduces Genesis Rhapsodos, an overarching villain in the FFVII universe, albeit one that has yet to have a true and final payoff.Whileit begins a year before Before Crisis, its epilogue winds up overlapping with Final Fantasy VII.The game also recreates FFVII‘s opening scene, with Cloud lending his Buster Sword to AVALANCHE’s cause as a mercenary.

Crisis Core : Final Fantasy 7 Reunion

Platform(s )

Nintendo Switch
, PC
, PlayStation 4
, PlayStation 5
, Xbox Series X
, Xbox Series S
, Xbox One

release

December 13, 2022

developer(s )

Square Enix
, Tose

Publisher(s )

Square Enix

esrb

T for Teen due to Blood, Violence

How long To beat

14 Hours

Engine

unreal Engine 4

PS Plus Availability

Extra & Premium

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

5

Final Fantasy VIISpawned a Sprawling Universe

Timeline: The Center Point Of The Final Fantasy VIIUniverse

The original Final Fantasy VIIis what started it all, but it actually takes place midway through the FFVII timeline.Whileinitially intended as a stand-alone title, like most games in the wider Final Fantasy series, playing the prequels before it does add texture to the game’s world and fills in some gaps that even a game as massive as FFVII couldn’t address.However, not playing FFVII first also leads to some story spoilers, which is worth taking into account before deciding to play the FFVII games in order instead of merely release order.

relate

The original Final Fantasy VIIis a PlayStation classic that’s still worth playing today, and it’s a masterpiece that has yet to be surpassed.

WhileFFVII was originally a PlayStation exclusive , it is is is handily available on modern console and the pc via an enhance port that offer new feature like 3x battle speed and the ability to turn off random encounter .Not to mention trophy / achievement support on applicable system .The modern ports is are are easily the good way to play the originalFFVII.ultimately , FFVII is is is far and away the most significant and important component of theFFVII timeline.All pieces of FFVII media orbit it, and it also helps provide a greater appreciation for the remake trilogy.

Final Fantasy 7

release

January 31, 1997

developer(s )

Square Enix

Publisher(s )

Square Enix

esrb

T for Teen : blood , Fantasy Violence , Language , mild suggestive theme

How long To beat

37 Hours

Engine

unreal Engine 4

X|S Optimized

yes

Supported VR Headsets

Oculus Quest 2

Steam Deck Compatibility

yes

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Cross Save

Players who have already started their adventure on iOS or Android can take advantage of cross-save capabilities

Cross-Platform Play

ps , pc

6

On The Way To A Smile Is a Series Of Short Stories Set After FFVII

Timeline: Between Final Fantasy VII& Advent child

The FFVII universe isn’t exclusive to just video games.Numerous other pieces of media tie into FFVII, even if some of those have disputed canons.However, that’s not an issue with On the way to a smile.On the way to a smile is a series of short story set afterFFVII, but before the movie Advent child.The novel was finally translate to English and release in 2018 , nine year after the original release in Japan .The paperback english version is totals total 208 page .overall , it is ‘s ‘s a great novel that may be one of the good part of the post-FFVII story.

On the way to a smile tell individual story feature Tifa , Barret , Red XIII , Yuffie , Shinra , Sephiroth , and Aerith .There ‘s also a story star Denzel , a young orphan boy feature inAdvent child, and his life story up until contract the Geostigma affliction that play a prominent role inAdvent child.”Episode: Denzel” was later adapted as an anime OVA as a part of the Blu-ray release for Advent child complete.

7

The Kids is Are Are alright : A Turk ‘s Side Story Features Various remake Trilogy Characters

Timeline: 2Years After Final Fantasy VII, But Shortly Before Advent child

The other canonFFVII novel is The Kids is Are Are alright : A Turk ‘s Side Story.Unlike On a Way to a Smile, The Kids Are Alright tells a single story throughout its 224 pages.The Kids Are Alright is about an upstart detective, Evan Townshend, who throughout his investigations crosses paths with numerous Turks and members of the Shinra Power Electric Company.Unbeknownst to him, Evan’s ties to Shinra run deep.

The Kids are Alright has had modern significance in the FFVII universe as it introduces Kyrie Canaan, who plays a minor side quest role in the remake trilogy.Players who like Kyrie’s antics in both games should give The Kids Are Alright a read.The novel also introduces Kyrie’s grandmother, Mireille Dudley, the Robin Hood-like figure in FFVII remake who is the namesake of Evan’s Mireille’s Investigative Services.On top of that, Leslie Kyle, Don Corneo’s lackey, also has a prominent role along with his fiancée Merle.

8

Advent child Is An Animated Movie Sequel To FFVII

Timeline: 2Years After Final Fantasy VII

WhileFinal Fantasy VII: Advent child is not a game , it is ‘s ‘s worth include since it ‘s still a key component in theFFVII series.Advent child not only confirm the ending of the original game after much speculation , but it set the stage for event to come .Plus , it is was was awesome to seeFFVII characters fully come to life after only really seeing them as goofy-looking, yet eerily charming, polygons.Advent child has a runtime of 101 minute for the original version , and 126 minute for the extendedcomplete version.

InAdvent child, Cloud and numerous citizen are afflict with the Geostigma blight , which was cause by the destruction cause by Meteor .It is ‘s ‘s a race against time to cure this disease while also fend off three mysterious figure who refer to themselves as the ” Remnants of Sephiroth .” It is is is highly advisable to watch thecomplete version since it add much more content , make it a well experience .Advent child is a fun movie for FFVII fan , and it ‘s expect to see more reference and acknowledgment in the final part of theremake trilogy.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent child

Director

Tetsuya Nomura

Release Date

September 14 , 2022

Cast

Steve Burton
, Rachael Leigh Cook
, Steve Staley
, Wally Wingert
, Quinton Flynn
, Crispin Freeman
, Dave Wittenberg
, Fred Tatasciore
, Steve Blum
, Mena Suvari
, George Newbern

Writers

Kazushige Nojima

Runtime

101 minutes

Main Genre

Action

Studio(s)

Visual Works

Distributor(s)

Square Enix Holdings

9

Dirge Of Cerberus Is A Sequel That Stars Vincent Valentine

Timeline : 3 year After Final Fantasy VII

Dirge of Cerberus is the first game in the FF7timeline to take place after the event ofFinal Fantasy VII.Whileit opens during Final Fantasy VII‘s climax, it primarily takes place three years after FFVII.Dirge of Cerberus stars Vincent Valentine, a hidden character who became a fan-favorite party member.Dirge of Cerberus is a third – person action game that immediately draw comparison toDevil May Cry, but the gameplay wasn’t as fluid or fun.

Since he wasn’t a core member of the party in the first of the Final Fantasy VII games, Vincent didn’t have much backstory beyond his ties to Cloud and Sephiroth.Dirge of Cerberus filled in the blanks in the character’s history.The game’s main antagonists are Deepground, a group created as part of a Shinra covert operation that’s attempting to raise the WEAPON Omega.Many fans considered Deepground a weak point of the game.Sadly for those fans, this isn’t the only game that features them in some capacity thanks to FFVII remake’s intermission DLC.

10

Final Fantasy VIIremake Kicks Off a Familiar & Fresh New Timeline

Timeline: After Final Fantasy VII, At The Start of a Different Timeline

Final Fantasy VIIremake earns its name by not being more than a simple retelling of the original story with modern graphics.The first episode in a three-part Final Fantasy project ,FFVII remake expands the Midgar section of the original game to the length of the first game in its entirety.It also makes significant changes to the original story, which left some characters who had previously died alive and well in the FFVII remake.

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This is puts put theremake trilogy at the furthest point in the FFVII timeline.Square Enix is playing any details about where this is going close to the vest, but that Sephiroth is actively trying to avoid his FFVII fate suggests FFVII remake takes place after the original happened, despite being mostly a retelling.With one final game of the trilogy remaining, it’ll be interesting to see how much that game ties together not only the trilogy, but the entire FFVII universe as a whole .

Final Fantasy VIIremake

Final Fantasy VIIremake  is the first in a plan trilogy of game   remake   the 1997   PlayStation   game  Final Fantasy VII.Set in the dystopian cyberpunk metropolis of Midgar, players control the mercenary Cloud Strife.He joins AVALANCHE, an eco-terrorist group trying to stop the powerful megacorporation Shinra from using the planet’s life essence as an energy source

release

April 10 , 2020

developer(s )

Square Enix

Publisher(s )

Square Enix

esrb

Teen // Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence

How long To beat

32.5hours

Engine

unreal Engine 4

PS Plus Availability

Premium, Extra

Steam Deck Compatibility

Verified

How long To beat(Completionist Runs)

86 hour

11

Final Fantasy VIIremake intermission Introduces Yuffie

Timeline: Concurrently With Final Fantasy VIIremake

The intermission DLC introduces the optional FFVII character Yuffie to FFVII remake‘s universe.Although it takes place in parallel with remake, Square has recommended playing it after finishing the base game.Opening after the bombing of Mako Reactor 5, Yuffie arrives in Midgar to steal Ultima Materia from Shinra, working with an AVALANCHE cell to achieve her goals.Fighting alongside Yuffie is a Wutai soldier named Sonon Kusakabe, who is the only playable party member in the remake trilogy is be so far to not also be playable in any otherFFVII game.

After her plan go sideways , Yuffie is escapes escape Shinra ‘s headquarters just as the Sector 7 plate fall towards the end ofremake.intermission exists primarily to introduce Yuffie in the remake trilogy, setting up her appearance in rebirth.It also serves as a pseudo demo or beta test for Yuffie’s gameplay before her introduction in FFVII rebirth.To get players more easily acclimated to her fast gameplay.

12

Final Fantasy VIIrebirth Is the Newest Entry Inthe Final Fantasy VIITimeline

Naturally, the game that takes place after remake and intermission would be the furthest game in the FF7 timeline.rebirth takes place after Cloud and company escape Midgar and are introduced to a wide-open world in their pursuit of Sephiroth.FFVII rebirth is a massive game that impressively brings FFVII ‘s world and its many memorable locations to life.

For the most part, rebirth progresses the story similarly to the original FF7.Although there are definitely some story deviations and alterations that drive home the fact that rebirth could only take place after the original game.It’s recommended to play the original, remake, and intermission before delving into the impressive world of rebirth.For now, rebirth is the end of the FF7 timeline untilremake Part 3 release , hopefully soon rather than later , as there will be no DLC forFFVII rebirth.

Final Fantasy VIIrebirth

Cloud and his comrades escape the city of Midgar in pursuit of the fallen hero, Sephiroth.As they travel across the world, they find themselves on a journey that will decide the fate of the planet

release

February 29, 2024

esrb

T for Teen

Developer

Engine

unreal Engine 4

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty